Real Madrid News
Real Madrid starlet will join the squad in US but unlikely to play at Club World Cup
On Thursday night, reports emerged claiming that Real Madrid youngster Endrick was set to fly to the USA to join the rest of the squad at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 18-year-old striker had been out of action since May due to a hamstring injury and was expected to be out of action for two months.
As such, Endrick did not travel to the USA and stayed back in Spain, working hard on his recovery, before it was reported that the striker would be joining the rest of the squad and could be available for the Round of 16 clash.
Endrick unlikely to play at the Club World Cup
Now, according to Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Endrick will indeed fly to the USA tomorrow to join the rest of the Real Madrid squad.
However, for now, the idea is that the Brazilian international will not be playing any part in the Club World Cup.
But it is seen as important for the 18-year-old starlet to be close to new manager Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff.
It makes sense for Endrick to be around the team and the new staff now that he has recovered, so that he can observe training and get used to the new tactics and way of play.
Endrick endured a difficult debut campaign under Carlo Ancelotti after arriving from Palmeiras in 2024, with minutes proving hard to come by.
The teenage striker still managed to score seven goals and register one assist. The expectation is that the Brazilian will have a bigger role under Alonso although the recent emergence of Gonzalo Garcia could have an adverse effect.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
